Portrait of a Nation - Contemporary Art from the United Arab Emirates at me Collectors Room

A philosophy graduate interested in theory, politics and art. Alias of Jelena Martinović.

Founded in 1971, the United Arab Emirates is home to some 200 nationalities today. Its contemporary art scene has come a long way in the last 40 years. The UAE is now an international center for the visual arts, and a hub for the art market of the Middle East. The latest exhibition at me Collectors Room Berlin will offer a glimpse into the creative practices of 50 contemporary artists from the UAE. Titled Portrait of a Nation, the exhibition will explore the country’s cultural heritage through individual perspectives of the participating artists who call it home. Tracing the nation’s shifting identity, the exposition will offer a rare insight into the country’s little-known history and diversity.

Tracing the Nation’s Identity

Providing a valuable insight into the practice of Emirati contemporary artists, the exhibition Portrait of a Nation will consider significant contemporary questions of heritage and identity. Exploring complex ideas of modern nationhood, visiting urban and rural landscapes and examining major issues of unity, spirituality, and language, the exhibition will be divided into seven themed rooms: Nation & Unity, Geography & Nature, Architecture & Urbanism, Portraiture & Identity, Religion & Spirituality, Language & Calligraphy, and Tradition & Heritage. Highlighting the diversity of art practice in UAE, the exhibition will feature a variety of mediums, including sculpture, photography, land art, painting, textiles, video, scenography, and new takes on traditional crafts. Featuring three generations of renowned Emirati artists, the exposition will present seminal pieces alongside new contemporary reflections. Additionally, it will include 20 specially commissioned works by emerging and established artists.

The ADMAF Art Collection

Organized in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), the exhibition will feature works from the organization’s rich art collection. One of the 0ldest, non-profit cultural organizations in the Arabian Gulf and organizer of the Abu Dhabi Festival, ADMAF has pioneered new artistic practices over the last 20 years, seeking to deepen global cross-cultural dialogue and inspire a renewed interest in the creativity of the UAE and the wider Arab region. Consisting of acquisitions, commissions and donations, the ADMAF Art Collection focuses on Emirati practice and seeks to highlight artistic expression from the Arab world and Middle East. The collection features more than 80 pieces which present the creativity of the UAE and the wider Arab world.

Exploring UAE at me Collectors Room Berlin

One of the largest exhibitions of Emirati art, Portrait of a Nation opened in Abu Dhabi in 2016. Now staged abroad for the first time, it prompts urgent and globally relevant questions on identity and exchange in the 21st century. The exhibition will be on view at me Collectors Room Berlinfrom September 13th until October 29th, 2017. It will be accompanied by a series of talks and discussions such as the talk with 25 featured artists, a talk with Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF, panel discussions on Emirati identity and creativity, but also a film program dedicated to the Emirati cinema.